Park Named Coach of the Year
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DuBois – Penn State DuBois Head Wrestling Coach Matt Park has been named the National Collegiate Wrestling Association's Mid-East Conference (NCWA) Coach of the Year.
Park led the rebirth of the campus wrestling program just last year, establishing the first wrestling team on campus since the 1970's. In its second season, Park's team made it to the NCWA Championships hosted at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. Over 70 teams had representatives at this year's championships; Penn State DuBois sent eight competitors and finished in 27th place in the team standings with 19 points.
Previously, Park coached at Brookville and Brockway area high schools. Under Park's leadership, the Brockway team was the runner up in the 2001 Dual Meet State Championships. That year Park was also named District Nine Coach of the Year.
The NCWA Mid-East Conference Coach of the Year is chosen by the coaches within the association. Park said that makes the honor even more special.
"It's an honor to be recognized by your peers, that you're doing a good job," Park said. He then gave credit to others involved in the program for their roles in the team's success. He said, "Accepting awards like this is really a testament to the whole program. It starts at the top with Chancellor McDonald and the support we get from her. It funnels down to our athletic coordinator and right down into the wrestlers themselves."